Middlesex County Business to Business Expo October 11th

Photo credit: De Kine Photo LLC

(Middletown, CT.)  Chairman Gregory Shook of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce announced that the Middlesex County Business to Business Expo will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at the Radisson Hotel Cromwell.

The general public is invited to visit with over 115 exhibitors, from a number of different industries, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The 2016 Middlesex Business to Business Expo begins at 7:45 a.m. with a Connecticut “Outlook” Tourism Breakfast with featured presenter Randy Fiveash, Director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism, to learn about some exciting new developments and initiatives on the tourism in Connecticut. Opening Ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m.

The Annual Expo Luncheon Meeting, featuring the 5^th Annual Small Business Awards Ceremony, will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. This luncheon event, also featuring remarks by Commissioner Catherine Smith of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, is sponsored by Comcast Business Class & Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C with media partner Hartford Business Journal.

The 2016 Small Business of the Year winners are:

Business of the Year Award (1-30 Employees)

Cromwell Automotive, Cromwell

Business of the Year Award (31+ Employees)

Saybrook Point Inn, Old Saybrook

Business Growth & Expansion Award

Angelico's Lake House Restaurant, East Hampton

Manufacturer of the Year

Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford

Minority-Owned Business of the Year

Tonia's Tailoring, Middletown

Outstanding New Business Under 5 Years

iCRV Radio, Ivoryton.

Retail Business of the Year

Mallove's Jewelers, Middletown

Tourism/Hospitality Business of the Year

Nehemiah Brainerd House Bed & Breakfast, Haddam

The Middlesex County Fall Career Fair, featuring over 50 employers that are currently hiring, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Middlesex County Fall Career Fair is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Workforce Alliance, and the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. 

Professional Resume Writers will be on site to assist in the development of resumes and cover letters.

For a list of participating companies and positions available, please visit http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/jobfairs/.

The Annual Middlesex Business to Business Expo Health and Wellness Fair, sponsored by Middlesex Hospital, will highlight best practices for promoting health and wellness in your company and in your life.

The Health and Wellness Fair will feature:

• Flu Vaccination Clinic (Cost still to be determined, most insurances accepted)

THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO GET YOUR FLU SHOT.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS!

• Blood Pressure Screenings
• Cholesterol Screenings
• Bone Density Testing
• Balance Testing
• Sleep Disorder Clinic

Information will also be available on:

• Cancer Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment
• Rehabilitation
• Diabetes
• Adult and Pediatric Asthma
• Weight Management for Children
• Chronic Heart Failure
• Smoking Cessation
• Wellness Programs

All Health and Wellness Fair services are FREE unless otherwise noted.

The Middlesex County Business to Business Expo will feature workshops several workshops to choose from divided into two sessions.

The first session features the workshop of Women in Business: Women in Leadership and How to Succeed. This workshop will be led by Portland First Selectman Susan Bransfield, Durham First Selectman Laura Francis and Haddam First Selectman Lizz Milardo. Another first session workshop is Empowering Women: One Woman Can Change Anything, Empower Yourself and Others! This workshop will be led by Ellen Ornato and Jenny Drescher of ConnectAnd Improv. A business energy-supply workshop, Energy: Your Energy, Your Choice: Helping our Business Customers Understand Competitive Energy Supply will take place. This workshop is sponsored by Eversource and led by Kevin Charette, director of the call centers at Eversource, and Daryush Donyavi, supervisor, electric energy supplier services at Eversource. A workshop, Digital Strategy for your Tourism Business, will feature information on how to create an up-to-date digital strategy to enhance your business practices, increase your productivity and grow your revenue.

During the second session, a second presentation of our women’s empowerment workshop will be offered again. An energy focused workshop called Sustainable Solutions: Clean Energy and Electric Vehicle Options for Your Business will be presented. The workshop is sponsored by Eversource and speakers include Christie L. Bradway is the Manager of Renewable Power Contracts for Eversource and Watson Collins is the Manager of

Business Development for Eversource. Additionally during this time a Tourism Brochure Swap will be led. Lastly, a workshop geared toward young professionals, Communicating in the Digital Age, will provide best practices for tapping one’s personal and leadership capabilities around the communication of digital social media, written communication, such as business writing and blogs; personal branding, public and small-arena speaking and nonverbal communication.

At 3 p.m. Connecticut Chamber Health Plans will be holding an informational event on health insurance in Connecticut. From 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Tourism Council will present a Let’s Make A Deal, package deal creation event. 

The members only Executive Evening Event, to be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., will feature a great spread of complimentary food, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, over 115 exhibitors, raffle prizes, and terrific networking.  Also included in the Executive Evening event is the Witch’s Brew, Lorraine C. McHugh Scholarship Benefit Room. Proceeds will benefit Business Industry Foundation of Middlesex County. Chamber members can register online for ExecutivCoe Evening at www.middlesexchamber.com. 

The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all Expo sponsors for their strong support of this major event. 

Presenting Sponsors: Comcast Business and Updike, Kelly, & Spellacy P.C., Radisson

Media Sponsor: Hartford Business Journal

Platinum Sponsors: Chamber Insurance Trust, Eversource Energy, Lantern Energy, Pratt & Whitney, Tower Laboratories LTD

Titanium Sponsors: Connecticut Lottery

Gold Sponsors: A&A Office, Bank of America, Community Renewal Team, KGS Insurance Services, LLC, The Mattabassett District

Silver Sponsors: Community Health Center, DATTCO Inc., Lyman Orchards, Xavier High School

Bronze Sponsors: A Second Chance CPR & First Aid Training LLC, Executive Offices, Suburban Office Furniture, The Durham Manufacturing Company

For more information, or to register for Expo events and activities, please visit www.middlesexchamber.com.